Highlights

• Welcome New Vet Dr. Heidi Hendrickson
• RASKC Adopting HSUS Philosophy
• What's New on VicNet
• Recognizing our March Volunteer of the Month
• Check out RASKC Community Events
• Current Volunteer Openings
• Looking for a job? RASKC is hiring!

Welcome New Vet Dr. Heidi Hendrickson

RASKC welcomes a new full time veterinarian to our staff-- Dr. Heidi Hendrickson. She is originally from the Seattle area and recently practiced veterinary medicine in Wisconsin.  She is glad to be back in Puget Sound.      Dr. Hendrickson works the Wednesday through Saturday schedule. Dr. Amanda Murdock, who is now RASKC’s Veterinary Clinic Manager, works the Sunday through Wednesday schedule.

RASKC Adopting HSUS Philosophy

This spring RASKC has adopted a new philosophy, along with several new policies and procedures, as part of the Adopters Welcome program.

This program helps animals by removing unnecessary barriers to their adoption, in part, by creating a more welcoming atmosphere. Adopters Welcome embraces community members, encourages them to adopt, and helps them and their pets succeed.

As part of this program, all of RASKC’s adoptable animals  are color-coded to help give guidance to prospective adopters.   “Easy Going Green” indicates that these pets are adaptable and carefree. They are wonderful companions who love to go with the flow. “Bashful Blue” animals are gentle and loving, but might be nervous in new situations. They might need some time to come out of their shell. Once they do, they are very devoted friends. Rambunctious Red animals are spirited and energetic. They have fun-loving personalities and benefit from lots of daily playtime and exercise.

The staff who perform temperament testing assign an initial color to the animals. The animals’ color can change if their behavior suggests that might be appropriate.

Here are some examples of how RASKC has integrated Adopters Welcome into cat meet-and-greet work:

• Customers do not need to fill out an application first in order to meet with cats.
• Meet and Greet  volunteers and customers no longer need to wear gowns & gloves or wash hands between cats. Please always make sure to visit with kittens first and sick cats last!
• Adopters will receive a refund if they return their animal within 90 days of adoption.
• Signs about the new RASKC adoption colors have been posted in the volunteer room.
• New adoption policies: No landlord checks required, No specific child restrictions, Customers can adopt an animal as a gift

Here is a link to a website and  video that describes Adopters Welcome.

Questions about Adopters Welcome? Contact Animal Services Coordinator Nickie Ford, Nickie.Ford@kingcounty.gov

What's New on VicNet

RASKC is very happy to feature a great new video on safe cat handling by volunteers and other tools on our new online resource hub. Produced by the Animal Humane Society, this video (35 minutes) vividly gives tips on how to deal with cats who are in the somewhat stressful shelter environment. Whenever new cat-oriented volunteers onboard with RASKC, they are emailed a link to this video. RASKC also encourages highly skilled, very experienced volunteers to click on video as a refresher. A link to the video is also featured on RASKC’s new resource hub on the homepage of your volunteer record when you access VicNet.  Other featured training videos include “How to prepare cat food trays for RASKC” featuring Shelter Helper Instructor Carolyn Dunstone  here and a video to help if you’d like to submit a posting for RASKC’s blog. RASKC volunteers who work a scheduled shift often access their online record via VicNet to mark absences and fill-in shifts. Some foster volunteers might be less familiar regarding how to access VicNet. Here’s a video on how to access VicNet. You gain initial entry by going to the volunteer page on RASKC’s website, then clicking on the button for RASKC volunteer sign-in.  You then enter your user name (your email), then click on “forgot my password.” A temporary password will be sent to you. Retrieve it, then return to the VicNet sign-in page. From there you will see RASKC’s new resource hub!

Recognizing our March Volunteer of the Month

Meet Volunteer of the Month Jayne Roddy! Jayne is one of RASKC’s longest serving volunteers, working in a variety of roles. Jayne began fostering about 24 years ago, and she continues to do so. Jayne helped launch RASKC’s Tukwila Petco Cat-Care Team in 2013, and she has been serving as a leader of the team ever since. Jayne also fills in on Early Morning Cat Crew. She worked several summers in RASKC’s Mission Reunite: Help & Hope for Lost Pets program. For many years Jayne worked a weekly shift on the Dog Team. She served as a Dog Team mentor and helped out with special adoption events. Jayne still helps with dogs for Comcast filming. Read an interview with Jayne on our Tails from RASKC blog.

Check out RASKC Community Events

RASKC  participates in many community events, including these: Saturday, March 25: Barnes & Noble pet-adoption event (Tukwila) Sunday, April 2: Catsino, Furry Faces Foundation (West Seattle) Check out more community events on RASKC’s Facebook page.

Current Volunteer Openings

Cat Meet & Greet @ RASKC (Kent)
Contact Coordinator Sarah S: raskc.coordinator@gmail.com

• Weekly
• Saturdays 4pm - 5pm
• Sundays 2pm - 4pm

• Alternating Weeks
• Fridays 2pm - 4pm
• Fridays 4pm - 6pm

Cat Care Team @ Partner Sites
Contact RASKC.Paperwork@kingcounty.gov

• Covington
• Sundays 5pm - 6pm (alternating weeks) -- starting in June
• Mondays 5pm - 6pm (weekly) -- starting in June

• Kirkland
• Wednesday 1pm - 3pm (alternating weeks) -- starting in June
• Wednesday 3pm - 5pm (alternating weeks)
• Wednesday 3pm - 5pm (alternating weeks) -- starting in June
• Thursday 3pm - 5pm (alternating weeks)

• Tukwila
• Saturday 5pm – 6pm (alternating weeks)

Shelter Helper @ RASKC (Kent)
Contact Coordinator Sarah S: raskc.coordinator@gmail.com

• Weekly
• Monday mid-day
• Friday 5pm - 6pm
• Sunday mornings

Office Volunteer
Contact RASKC.Paperwork@kingcounty.gov

• Weekly
• Mondays 2 hours in the afternoon
• Thursdays 2 hours in the afternoon

Dog Team
Contact Coordinator Lenda J, raskcdogteam@gmail.com
All-day introductory training: Saturday, April 8 -- Deadline to apply:  This Monday noon, March 20. 

• Weekly
• Tuesday 9:30am - 11am
• Thursday 9:30am - 11am
• Friday 8am - 9:30am
• Friday 9:30am - 11am
• Friday 3pm - 4:30pm
• Sunday 9:30am - 11am
• Sunday 12pm - 2pm

Looking for a job? RASKC is hiring!

King County is currently accepting applications for the positions of Pet Licensing Canvasser (seasonal) and Animal Control Officer. Go here and click on Search Job Openings. Please note that RASKC does not accept the applications directly. All applications go to King County’s Human Relations Department. Questions? Contact Lori McGill at lori.mcgill@kingcounty.gov

Contact the Volunteer Program

For any questions or comments please contact us at RASKC.Volunteers@kingcounty.gov